EMBL-EBI is hiring a Software Engineer for the UniProt team at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton, United Kingdom. The role covers designing and developing software and APIs for the UniProt data services and website, on a 3-year project-based contract with a monthly salary starting at £3,452 after tax. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy: applications close on 08 November 2026.
Vacancy at a Glance
🏢 Employer: EMBL-EBI (European Bioinformatics Institute, part of EMBL)
💼 Position: Software Engineer, UniProt (JR4171)
📍 Location: Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
📄 Contract: 3 years (project based)
💷 Salary: Grade 5, monthly salary starting at £3,452 after tax (excluding pension and insurances)
🏠 Working pattern: hybrid, two days on site (Mondays and Tuesdays) and three from home
🎓 Education: degree in Computer Science or a related discipline
⏱️ Experience: at least 3 years of professional software development in web back-end development
What Is the UniProt Team?
The team is looking for a software engineer with a strong record in software development who is interested in building services for one of the most internationally used data resources in biological science, UniProt. The team is very dynamic and interdisciplinary, made up of talented and enthusiastic software engineers and bioinformaticians who work closely with biologists and scientists.
UniProt is one of the most internationally used protein databases, serving a large and diverse research community in genomics, proteins and proteomics.
What Will You Do as a Software Engineer?
As part of your daily work, you will be:
🛠️ Designing and developing software and APIs for the UniProt data services and website
🔬 Providing protein information to the scientific community and computational biologists
☁️ Working on the design, maintenance and monitoring of the website cloud infrastructure
📈 Writing clear, concise, well tested and documented code, where scalability is an important feature
⚙️ Applying analytic engines and technical approaches to distributed processing of big data
⏰ Working towards tight deadlines, which the vacancy calls essential
Which Skills and Experience Does EMBL-EBI Require?
🎓 A degree in Computer Science or a related discipline
🖥️ Software Engineer with at least 3 years of professional experience in software development in web back-end development
☁️ Experience in web cloud infrastructure
🔁 Experience in Agile processes
💬 Good communication skills
☕ Experience in Java and/or Python development
🔌 Experience in developing RESTful services
🍃 Experience in developing applications using SpringBoot
🕸️ Experience in developing web infrastructure (Solr, Kubernetes)
🗝️ Experience with key value stores
🐧 Experience in git and basic Unix commands
What Would Be an Advantage?
The vacancy lists one desirable skill:
⚡ Experience with large data processing technologies (Apache Spark)
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How Does Hybrid Working Work at EMBL-EBI?
EMBL-EBI offers hybrid working options for all its employees. A dedicated desk is available every day, and the UniProt team works two days on site (Mondays and Tuesdays) and three from home.
How Much Does the Role Pay?
The position is Grade 5, with a monthly salary starting at £3,452 after tax (excluding pension and insurances), plus other paid benefits based on personal circumstances. The contract length is 3 years (project based).
Why Join EMBL-EBI?
🌐 Do something meaningful: EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. It provides the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools that are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security and biodiversity.
🌳 Join a culture of innovation: the institute is located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations and surrounded by Cambridgeshire countryside. It is described as a highly collaborative and inclusive community with a relaxed atmosphere, where employees are meant to feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential.
Which Benefits Come With the Job?
🧾 Financial incentives: monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
🕰️ Flexible working: flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working patterns
🩺 Private medical insurance: for you and your immediate family, including all prescriptions and generous dental and optical cover
🏖️ Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to public holidays
📦 Relocation package: includes an installation grant (conditions apply)
🚌 Campus life: free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
🍼 Family benefits: on-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
🛂 Benefits for non-UK residents: visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance
Can International Candidates Apply?
EMBL-EBI recruits internationally, and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. The vacancy does not list a nationality restriction and states that it encourages applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and any other diverse backgrounds. EMBL believes that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence.
How Does EMBL Assess Applications?
EMBL is a signatory of DORA and applies DORA principles to its recruitment and performance assessment processes. Introductory meetings are planned to be held virtually with selected candidates in November 2026, and EMBL aims to respond within two weeks after the closing date.
How to Apply
📎 Submit a cover letter and a CV through the EMBL online application system.
⏰ Applications close at 23:59 CET on 08 November 2026.
Find more opportunities like this in our jobs listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the EMBL-EBI UniProt Software Engineer job based?
The position is based in Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, on the Wellcome Genome Campus. The team works two days on site (Mondays and Tuesdays) and three days from home.
What is the salary for this role?
The role is Grade 5, with a monthly salary starting at £3,452 after tax, excluding pension and insurances. Other paid benefits depend on personal circumstances.
How long is the contract?
The contract runs for 3 years and is project based.
How much experience do I need?
EMBL-EBI asks for at least 3 years of professional experience in software development in web back-end development, plus a degree in Computer Science or a related discipline.
Which technologies does the role use?
The requirements mention Java and/or Python, RESTful services, SpringBoot, web infrastructure such as Solr and Kubernetes, key value stores, git and basic Unix commands. Experience with large data processing technologies such as Apache Spark is desirable.
Can candidates from outside the UK apply?
Yes. EMBL-EBI recruits internationally, offers visa exemptions to successful candidates and does not list a nationality restriction in the vacancy.
What benefits are offered to non-UK residents?
The benefits include a visa exemption, an education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.
How do I apply?
Submit a cover letter and a CV through the EMBL online application system before the deadline on 08 November 2026 (23:59 CET).
When will I hear back?
EMBL aims to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date, and introductory meetings with selected candidates are planned virtually in November 2026.
Deadline
⏳ 08 November 2026
Links
🔗 Job posting (EMBL): https://embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/EMBL/job/Hinxton-Cambridgeshire/Software-Engineer_JR4171
📝 Application: https://embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/job/Hinxton-Cambridgeshire/Software-Engineer_JR4171/apply
